A Flame Within: Reflection on the Soul

A Flame Within: Reflection on the Soul

Jesus said to the crowds: “I am
the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” (in Jn.
6)

I recall watching an old rerun of "The
Nun's Story," This is a story, based on Kathryn Hulme's best-selling novel, The Nun's Story." The lead actress was Audrey Hepburn, who portrays Sister Luke in a Belgian Convent of a contemplative
order of nuns. Filmed in 1959, when it was totally out of the question to leave any order after a religious had made perpetual profession, the movie is the story of a young nun who enthusiastically
enters this monastic order, the daughter of a famous surgeon, goes to the missions in the Congo, to be a Surgical Assistant to the Surgeon (played by Peter Finch) at a local Congolese hospital, and,
eventually, leaves the order entirely.

The sensation of the movie is that she
leaves after having made final Vows. If you are a discerning Catholic, you will readily see the real reason why she finds it necessary to leave... she put God second place, after herself. One cannot
do this in ordinary life, but in particular in a vowed life, placing God in second place will douse that flame within: the fire will go out.

Having been in a contemplative order, I
have experienced the very stumbling block shown in the portrayal of Sister Luke's experiences in religious life. When the bell rang to stop work, she used to go on until finished with a patient. One
can't do this in religious life. Similarly, in my experience, when the hour came to start Midday Prayer, I knew intellectually that I had to stop right then, but very often I didn't. That's
disobedient for a religious with a Vow of Obedience, Chastity and Poverty. It's a fault that (in the movie) was reported during a Chapter of Faults (where religious gather together and voice their
shortcomings). Thus, if a superior becomes aware that a sister commits this same fault day after day, there will be dialogue, and something will be done to help her realize that God comes
first.

The life within, in the soul, is a life
of strong conviction for some, and a very fragile life for others. Either the flame burns brightly, or it is pinched off by human pride. Pride (egotism) is the cause of much evil that goes on in this
world. It is also the leading cause that dedicated people leave convents, monasteries, and other orders, or even the church. Similarly, people who leave the Roman Catholic Church (for whatever
reason) may have placed God second or third in their lives, but of course each person's situation is different.

When that flame burns brightly, all is
well, and the relationship between a soul and Our Lord will evolve into a beautiful and holy relationship. When that flame begins to flicker, the relationship will lessen, and, when the flame goes
out, there will not be a relationship anymore.

The Season of Lent is an appropriate
time to examine ones’ dedication to a life’s goal, including the Secular Franciscan life. When the life of the soul ceases, sin follows almost immediately, because we have lost the continual war with
Satan. People have told me, 'oh, he does not bother me'... watch out, that's an attitude of inviting Satan to wreak havoc in your soul. It isn't nice to tell anyone to go to Hell. But do tell Satan
to return to Hell and burn to a crisp. In other words, don't let him and his powers and principalities anywhere near your soul - that soul is reserved for a special relationship with Jesus, a strong
relationship of total love with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. That means God ALWAYS comes first.

A soul where that flame burns brightly
is never without temptations. It takes suffering on the part of most people to maintain this total dedication to God, whether by religious vows, or the life of a spiritually healthy lay person. It
can be a very rocky pilgrimage, on a path strewn with many boulders. God, however, loves a well-fought fight. He does not award spiritual slouching. He looks for dedication, zeal, and the strong will
to please Him. He loves conquerors, He identifies with those who will give this fight their 100% effort. God is also a very forgiving Master. When we have erred, we confess our sins, and we promise
to do better. We can say we love God, but do we really? Do our actions, our striving to obey Him, indicate willingness to try harder, or is it only a half-hearted effort? The great Saint Bonaventure,
in so many words, said ... If you love God, you do not sin. If you still sin, you do not love God enough! That's really what this is all about. It is the nitty-gritty of the matter, not loving God
enough. We all sin, some are apt to say. But what are you doing about it... are you trying to sin less, or are you just a spiritual couch potato?

With a keen sense of obedience, it is
possible to live in a continual state of Chastity and Poverty. Obedience is the gateway that keeps our will, tainted by Original Sin, out of the equation. People who are nuns, sisters, and monks,
brothers or priests living in a religious order, and also, professed members of lay orders (e.g. Secular Institutes), know that living in excess is wrong. It is an attraction to material things that
keep our thoughts away from what is happening around us. There is so much suffering, there are so many people away from the Church, who need our prayerful help. A dedicated soul is a valuable
commodity, that far outweighs any artificial road to fame, lavish living, or material things as such. And Chastity ... it is easy to understand why this is one of the Evangelical Counsels, but even
for lay people, married or single, there is a need for chaste living. The rewards, even in this life, are overwhelming. Being at total peace with God is a happy relationship, a contemplative or
meditative relationship, and subsequently those who enjoy this state of the soul, will be beneficial to society, evenly friendly to all, regardless of differences between themselves and others. They
will bring into this world, a continual smile, a compassionate heart, and they will be seen as an image of Christ.But even among religious there are grouches ... there are grouches in every walk of life, and God loves then also.

May the Lord bless you and may He show
His face to you. May He bless you, and your family.